Siena University Athletics

Steven Jensen enters his 11th year as the head men's golf coach at Siena College for the 2025-26 season. The 2022-23 and 2023-24 MAAC Coach of the Year, he led the Saints to their sixth MAAC title and fifth NCAA Regional appearances last season. 

Jensen’s Saints retained The Murray Cup for the third consecutive season in the 2024-25 season, topping sister school St. Bonaventure 280-284 in the outing. The Green and Gold added another tournament win during the Fall 2024 season by taking home the Lehigh Invitational by an impressive 14 strokes over second place William & Mary. The victory was fueled by top-three finishers Michael McConie and Austin Giroux, as well as a sixth place showing from Nick Lyons. 
 
Siena continued to impress in the classroom as well, with seven members named to the MAAC Academic Honor Roll, five named to both the MAAC All-Academic Team and Eastern Athletic Communications Association Academic Honor Roll, and appearances on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team from Michael McConie and Nick Lyons. 

Siena followed its 2023-23 title run by repeating during the 2023-24 season, topping runner-up Fairfield by three strokes. The team narrowly missed its program MAAC Championships record 54-hole score set the previous year with 860 during its Spring 2024 title. The Green and Gold produced its first MAAC Rookie of the Year since 2019 in Michael McConie. McConie, along with teammate Nolan Crowley, took home All-MAAC honors after finishing inside the individual top-ten as the duo shared second place at three-under-par. Including a first place finish at the Cornell Invitational and their MAAC title, the Saints pieced together seven top-three tournament finishes throughout the year. 

The Green and Gold capped a dominant season with a definitive performance at the 2023 MAAC Championships, winning by the largest margin of victory (12) in 11 years with a program MAAC Championship record 54-hole score of 857. Sophomore Dan Brooks (T-3) and senior Nolan Crowley (T-5) each took home All-MAAC honors for finishing inside the individual top-ten. Siena walked away from the season with program records for most single-season wins (4), most team rounds of par or better (7), and most team birdies (397). 

Jensen positioned the Saints back near the top of the MAAC during the 2021-22 campaign, with the team finishing as the Runners-Up at the 2022 MAAC Championships. Siena took home the team title at the Veterans Intercollegiate in Florida for its first regular season tournament victory since 2007, while setting program records for low 18-hole score, low round vs. par, low 54-hole score, single-season scoring average, and team rounds of par or better in a season. The Saints also set a program record by placing six student athletes on the 2021-22 MAAC All-Academic Team.

Despite the team taking part in just six competitions during the abridged 2019-20 campaign, Jensen led the Saints in setting multiple program bests, including the season record for par-4 scoring. The Saints recorded the fifth-lowest 54-hole score (886) in program history at the Cornell Invitational to open the season, and tied the program best for 36-hole mark (572) at the Dartmouth Invitational, while shooting the second and third lowest individual team rounds (285 & 287). 

The Saints have also performed among the department's best teams academically under Jensen, earning NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Team Recognition awards for the 2016-17, 2017-18 & 2018-19 seasons. 

Jensen led the Saints to four top-5 team finishes during the 2018-19 campaign, with a pair of Siena golfers taking home top-10 finishes at the 2019 MAAC Championships. Additionally, the team logged their third MAAC Rookie of the Year award. 

Jensen led the Saints to back-to-back second place finishes at the MAAC Championships in 2017 & 2018. Under his watch, Michael Christifulli claimed the 2018 MAAC Individual Championship, moving on to compete at the NCAA Stockton Regional. 

In his second year as head coach, Jensen led the Saints to a second place finish at the MAAC Championship. It was the second consecutive year the Saints posted a top-two finish at the league tournament. Under his leadership, freshman Jake Holt was named 2016-17 MAAC Rookie of the Year after finishing second overall at the tournament.

In his first year at the helm, Jensen led the Saints to their fourth MAAC Championship in school history and the first since 2007. Siena claimed the title by shooting the second lowest final round score in MAAC Tournament history. Three golfers finished in the top-10, which was the most of any school. Jensen was named the 2016 MAAC Coach of the Year following the victory. 

Jensen was hired as Siena's men's golf head coach on August 4, 2015. He brings over 30 years of experience to the job, and has served as the head golf professional at Schuyler Meadows Club in Loudonville for over 25 years.

"I am thrilled and honored to be part of the Siena family and this great school," Jensen said upon his hiring. "What an incredible opportunity this is to positively impact the lives of student athletes. I look forward to coaching at a school known for its high academic and athletic standards. I'm committed to building a positive atmosphere for each player to maximize his potential, while developing fine golfers and fine gentlemen who Siena College will be proud of as young men."

Jensen has been a Class A-1 PGA of America Member in good standing for over 30 years. He has extensive instructional experience, and deep knowledge of the latest technological and teaching systems in the game. Jensen was recognized for his teaching acumen with the 2005 NENY PGA Teacher of the Year and 2004 Junior Golf awards.

At Schuyler Meadows, Jensen performs over 200 individual lessons per year, oversees the Club's junior camps and clinics, and coordinates the short game golf and golf schools which annually attract national instructors. He's also responsible for supervising tournament operations, including scheduling, promoting, designing and running over 80 member events each year. Jensen has had great success revitalizing Schuyler Meadows' junior golf program, increasing participation by 40% with new clinics, camps and tournaments. He has mentored eight golf assistant professionals who have advanced to become PGA members.

From 1991-95, Jensen served as the first assistant professional at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. Merion's East Course has played host to more USGA Championships than any course in America and is home to some of its greatest moments. Jensen oversaw the women's group clinics, junior clinics and golf schools at Merion, teaching more than 400 lessons a year.

Jensen additionally served as assistant golf professional at Washenaw Country Club in Ann Arbor, Mich. (1990), Sailfish Point Golf Club in Hutchinson Island, Fla. (1988 and 1999), Rockaway Hunting Club in Lawrence, N.Y. (1999), Montclair Golf Club in Montclair, N.J. (1985 and 1987) and Laurel Valley Club in Ligonier, Pa. (1986).

Jensen's teaching techniques have been developed with top teaching professionals from across the country. He has represented Schuyler Meadows in tournament play within the NENY PGA Section and across the country, placing fourth in the 2008 NENY PGA Classic (72), third in the 2006 NENY PGA Classic (71) and winning the 2005 NY Eastern Pro-Senior Championship, 2003 Hole-in-the-Wall Pro Championship and the 2003 NENY Pro-Pro after carding a 66.

 The Saints won the MAAC Championship in 1991, 2006, 2007 and 2016, and have finished second eight times since joining the conference in 1990. The Raymond Center and Harry Mikhitarian Training Facility provides Siena's golf teams with the unique opportunity to train year-round.

"The Raymond Center and Harry Mikhitarian Training Facility is a first-class facility that displays Siena's commitment to excellence," Jensen said. "We will work hard and have fun while aiming to achieve the highest level in the classroom and on the golf course. I'm committed to encouraging each student athlete to get the most out of his golf game through positive mental training. We will be a very dedicated and hard-working team that will compete for the MAAC Championship each and every year."